Early explorers of North Carolina, including John White, Thomas Heriot, John Lawson, and Mark Catesby, spoke enthusiastically of the endless natural wealth they found. Their words made the early settlers think that the resources were unlimited. Starting with the 18th-century, Davis traces how man has exploited North Carolina's resources and what steps have been taken to preserve them. For example, since 1947 the state has had what is widely recognized to be one of the most effective fish and game management programs in the country.